FAQ

Slideshow

Our marvellous solid white Stud male – gentle calm perfection.
Such a wonderful friend.
Tuck Trolley brings welcomed new supplies in the snow.
Fortune and her fawn daughter Charm with friend Spirit.
The speed we can get up to.
Racing start!
Possible entries for The Aintree Alpaca National - who says Alpacas can't run?
Perfection in fleece - this exquisite handbag is made entirely from our alpaca fleece.
My name is Palco, I'm made from Oakley Alpaca Fleece.
The wonderful things made by very clever hands with Oakley Alpaca fleece.
A posh boy - stunning from head to toe.
Fern calmly gives birth - bless her heart!
Fern concentrating on her labour.
Just a few more pushes needed.
Fern's friend Tequila protectively stands close by.
Out in the Orchard is far better than out on the town!
There's nothing quite as sweet as the Oakley Cherry Plums.
Beautiful babies, marvellous mother's - simply Awesome Oakley Alpacas.
Autumn shades of fabulous fleece.
On the march to new pastures.
Naomi leads the Oakley Herd.
What a marvellous array of sizes and colours.
Who's that over there?
Is everyone present and correct?
Issy and her beautiful daughter Noodle.
Bryannie - pretty, pinky and proud of herself - the perfect package.
Best looking girls on the block - strutting their stuff!
My name is Alice - You want my number?
Dawn asks Alice - Where did the green grass go?
It's a good job we're not white.
What a character. Our stunning grey stud male.
The Oakley Herd safely housed in their barn.
Bob Shaw visits our herd for shearing and husbandry regularly throughout May to August.
Deco’s mum Java with her cria Florrie May.
Wills enjoys the company of the alpacas – a mutual respect built up from when he was a puppy.
A colour chart of Alpaca crias - Black, Brown, Fawn, White.
Pure white quality female quietly accepts the shearing experience.
Just sheared, relaxed standing proud with her new fleece style
What one can do with this wonderful fleece.
So soft and warm.
Beckham causes a stir when visiting a retirement home.
This is where we stay.

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Interesting Facts

Alpacas are the smallest member of the camelid family, the largest being the camel and their well-known cousin the llama. There are two other camelids—the vicuña and the guanaco.
Alpacas originate from Chile, Peru and Bolivia.
Alpacas can live between 15 – 20 years and adults weigh 50 – 75 kgs.
There are 2 types of alpacas – huacaya and suri.
The male alpaca is called a macho, the female is called a hembro and a baby alpaca is called a cria.
There are 22 natural shades of alpaca fleece from jet black to pure white with many variable shades of grey, brown and fawn.
Alpaca fleece is soft and lustrous and comparable to cashmere. It is also one of the strongest natural fibres.
To harvest their fibre alpacas are sheared, normally yearly, preferably in spring/summer or to maximise fleece usability when fibre is 4 – 6 inches long.
Gestation time is 11 – 12 months, usually one cria born. Rarely are twins born and it is exceptional for both twins to survive.

Average birth weight of a cria is 16 – 20 lbs.
Normal cria temperature 37.7 – 39° C
Female alpacas are brought into season by the presence of an entire male thus, once mature, a female can be mated any time of the year.
A female alpaca is likely to produce 10 – 14 crias during her life time.
Most males normally mature between 2 – 3 years but it has been known for males to be proven as young as 9 months.
Crias are usually weaned at 6 – 8 months depending upon their individual development, condition of their dam and the time of year.

Alpacas communicate with one another making a soft humming sound. Occasionally they screech as their alert alarm warning to the herd when sensing any dangers.
Camelids do spit as a natural defence mechanism when protecting their cria or themselves but it is not often and even less often at humans. They tend to spit at one another when arguing over feed.
Alpacas are hardy to the UK climate all year round but they do appreciate shelter from persistent rain and prevailing winds and shade in the summer.
Alpacas learn quickly and remember. They can be halter trained, traffic proof, obstacle wise, accustomed to varying surroundings and circumstances enabling the alpaca to be used in a wide range of activities.